Hollywood Sign is Saved to Become Protected Parkland

LOS ANGELES, California, April 26, 2010 (ENS) - The famous Hollywood sign above Los Angeles, theatened by a development of luxury homes, has been saved and will become part of a public park.

The Trust for Public Land today announced it has raised enough money to buy and protect the 138 acres behind the Hollywood sign, as "Playboy" magazine founder Hugh Hefner stepped forward to close the gap with a $900,000 donation toward the $12.5 million needed.

"Today, we have the Hollywood ending we hoped for and now Cahuenga Peak will be forever protected by adding it to Griffith Park," said Will Rogers, president of Trust for Public Land. "We want to thank the thousands of donors worldwide who so generously helped us, and we owe a particular thanks to Hugh Hefner, who stepped forward at the end to close the final gap."

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, "Of all the iconic landmarks in the world, the Hollywood sign is truly one of the most recognizable symbols of the California dream and land of opportunity. It called to me when I left Austria and made my way to the U.S., with a few dollars in my pocket and the dream of becoming an actor."

"I am proud we were able to come together and create a public-private partnership to protect this historic symbol that will continue to welcome dreamers, artists and Austrian bodybuilders for generations to come," the governor said.

The sign is located on the southern side of Mount Lee in Griffith Park, north of the Mulholland Highway. The Cahuenga Peak landscape is surrounded by 4,200-acre Griffith Park, which attracts 12 million visitors every year.

Announcing the Hollywood Sign is saved, from left: Will Rogers of the Trust for Public Land, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Councilmember LaBonge and Chris Baumgart of the Hollywood Sign Trust (Photo courtesy Office of the Governor)

"This is a great day for all of us," said Los Angeles Council Member Tom LaBonge. "I have climbed Mt. Hollywood every morning for over 30 years and look forward to hiking Cahuenga Peak with anyone who wants to join me. This would not have happened without The Trust for Public Land, the Hollywood Sign Trust and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce."

In April 2009, Trust for Public Land signed an option to buy the 138 acres behind, and to the left, of the sign's "H," stretching west to Cahuenga Peak.

The land was originally bought in 1940 by industrialist Howard Hughes who intended to build a home for his girlfriend, actress Ginger Rogers. But the relationship ended and after Hughes died, his estate sold the property in 2002 to a group of Chicago investors. They put the property on the market two years ago for $22 million. It is zoned to build four luxury homes.

Hefner's gift capped the year-long land purchase effort, which began with $1 million gifts each from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and Aileen Getty.

At the original April 14 deadline, Trust for Public Land still had $1.5 million to raise. Trust for Public Land received a fundraising extension to April 30, and The Tiffany Foundation and Aileen Getty stepped forward again with a $500,000 matching grant, which the trust would receive if the remaining $1 million was raised.

Hefner's gift closed that final gap and enabled Trust for Public Land to realize the Tiffany and Getty challenge funds.

"My childhood dreams and fantasies came from the movies, and the images created in Hollywood had a major influence on my life and Playboy," said Hefner. "As I've said before, the Hollywood sign is Hollywood's Eiffel Tower and I am pleased to help preserve such an important cultural landmark."

Chris Baumgart, who chairs the Hollywood Sign Trust, said, "The sign you see today exists because Hugh Hefner raised the money in 1978 to re-build it. Now, 32 years later, the sign's number 1 fan has come forward again with the closing gift to 'Save the Peak' and thus the view of Mt. Lee and the Hollywood sign. It is a view that is recognized around the world as the icon of the entertainment industry and the postcard of the Southern California lifestyle."

The state raised a total of $3.1 million towards the land acquisition, local public funding contributed $2.7 million and private donations were given by all 50 states, 10 foreign countries and individuals to a total of $6.7 million.

"I thank Hugh Hefner and Aileen Getty for their critical contributions, along with everyone whose generous spirit moved them to join the campaign to save one of America's most famous urban spaces," said Michael Kowalski, chairman and CEO of Tiffany & Co.

Getty, a long-time Hollywood resident, said, "I'm proud to support TPL's efforts in conserving this magical place. With all of the needs facing our urban communities today, this successful effort reminds us that we also need beauty, green spaces, trails and parkland to prepare our communities for a healthy, more livable future."

There was a groundswell of support for the project in Los Angeles, with local residents holding rallies, bake sales, and fund-raising concerts on the Sunset Strip. On Facebook, more than 27,000 supporters have signed up.

Joseph Edmiston, executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, said, "The protection of this land is something which will provide an enormous benefit to people in Los Angeles, both now and for generations to come. This project has shone a welcome spotlight on the need to protect open lands in Los Angeles."